Combined collar and necktie clasp.



No. 642,459. Patented Jan. 30, I900.

F. KENYUN.

'COMBINED COLLAR AND NECKTIE CLASP.

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK KENYON, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

COMBINED COLLAR AND NECKTIE CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 642,459, datedJ'anuary30, 1900.

Application filed June 24, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK KENYON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Washington, in the District of Columbia, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Collar and NecktieClasp; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to a combined collar and necktie clasp.

The object of the invention is to produce a simple and ingenious claspfor preventing the accidental derangement of the collar or necktie.

To the accomplishment of this object the invention consists in forming aclasp of two pivoted or hinged members, one of which is provided with anopening for the reception of the head of the collar-button and the otherof which is provided with a prong designed for the double purpose ofurging the firstnamed member into its proper position and engaging thetie to retain it in place, the two members being retained in theirwide-open or closed positions by an interposed spring.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a general view showing theapplication of my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the devicein the open position. Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the prong incontact with the lower edge of the button-head and in the act of forcingthe upper portion of the slotted member behind the button-head. Fig. 4is a similar view with the device positioned as in use. Fig. 5 is adetail perspective view of one'of the members, and Fig. 6 is a similarview of the other member.

Referring to the numerals of reference on the drawings, 1 and 2 indicatethe hinged members of my clasp. The member 1 comprises a sheet-metalplate provided with a pair of ears 3 and 4:, bent from the plate intoparallel relation and between which islocated a spring-tongue 5, cutfrom the plate and bent down parallel to the face thereof, the opening6, formed by the cutting out of the tongue, being designed for thereception of the head of the collar-button-as, for instance, the buttonemployed for the purpose of retaining the rear ends of the collar-bandand Serial No. 721,765. (No model.)

which passes through the buttonhole at the rear of the collar. The slotor opening 5 is preferably formed, as shown, with a broad base and agradually-diminishing width toward its upper end. The purpose of thisparticular form of slot or opening is to permit the passage of thecollar-button head therethrough and to prevent its ready with drawalafter the member has been drawn down until the upper end of the openingor slot is occupied by the stem of the collar-button, in which positionthe head of the button overlaps the edges of the opening.

The member 2 is of less length than the member 1 in order that its upperedge 7,which is slightly concave, may pass under the head of thecollar-button when'the clasp is in place. It is slightly wider at itsupper end than the adjacent portion of the member 1 in order that it maybe readily grasped between the fingers, and it is provided adjacenttoits lower end with parallel ears 8 and 9, which are imposed against theears 3 and 4 of the member 1, the contiguous oppositely-extending earsupon the members being pivotally united by pintles 10 and 11 of anydesired form.

The numeral 12 indicates a lug or flange formed by bending the lower endof the mem-- her 2 at right. angles thereto and into contact with thespring-tongue 5 of the member 1.

It will be seen from this description that when the member 2 is swungback into the wideopen position the lug 12 will lie flat against thetongue, and the spring action of the latter will serve to hold themember 2 in the open position, as the direction of pressure issubstantially in line with the pintles. It will be equally obvious,however, that when the member 2 is swung forward slightly the edge ofthe lug or flange 12 will travel toward the extremity of the tongue,gradually causing the tongue to exert its spring-pressure upon thesection 2 below the pintles, at which time the spring-pressure will beutilized to close the member 2 against the member 1 and to retain it inthat position.

This clasp is designed not only for the purpose of retaining a tie, butto prevent the accidental passage of the collar-bu tton through the holein the collar, which would effect the release of the latter. It istherefore essential that the upper portion of the member 1 should bedrawn down snugly between the button-head and collar and upon the stemor shank of the button. I therefore cut a triangular slit in the member2'adjacent to its upper edge and bend back the triangular piece thusdefined to form a prong 13, which is designed to engage the band of thetie passing between the members and to contact with the lower edge ofthe button in case the mem her 1 has not been drawn down snugly. Slightpressure applied to the member 2 will cause the prong, which is slightlyinclined, to be forced under the button, thereby necessarily drawingdown the member 1 upon the shank of the collar-button and simultaneouslysecuring the button in the collar and the clasp upon the button, theupper edge of the memher 2 being finally slipped under the head of thebutton. It will now be seen that as the head of the collar-buttonoverlaps the edges of the slot in the member 1 and the upper edge of themember2 the button cannot be accidentally withdrawn from the collar norcan the clasp he accidentally removed from the button, and as theprongwill pass through the material of the tie, or, rather, through the bandthereof, passing around the neck of the wearer and between the members,said tie will be held securely against derangementin any direction untilit is desired to remove it, the entire device being released by graspingthe upper edge of the member 2 between the fingers and throwing it backto the open position, when, as will be obvious, the tie may be removedand the clasp dislodged from the button by simply moving it upwardsufiicicntly to allow the head of the collar-button to pass through thewide end of the opening.

While the present embodiment of my invention is believed to bepreferable, I do not desire to limit myself to the structural detailsillustrated and described, but reserve the right to make such changes,variations, and modifications as may come properly within the scope ofthe protection prayed.

What I claim is 1. A clasp of the character described con1 prising apair of hinged members, one of said members being provided with aspring-tongue cut from the member to form an elongated opening for thereception of a button-head and bent back over the face of the member,the other of said members being provided with a projection across itslower extremity 5 and in operative contact with the extremity of thespring-tongue, substantially as specified.

2. In a clasp, the combination with a sheet metal member provided with apair of cars 6 adjacent to one end, an elongated slot comparativelynarrow at its upper end and with a spring-tongue formed from the metalof the member and bent back over the face of the member below the slotand between the ears, 6 of a second member of less length and greaterwidth than the first-named member and provided with parallel earsadjacent to one end pivotally connected with the ears of the othermember, said second member being also pro- 7 vided at its lower end witha right-angular projection and with a prong extending from its innerface adjacent to its upper edge and inclined with respect to the face ofthe second member, substantially as specified. 7

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GRAFTON L. McGILL, LOUIS G. J ULIHN.

